SCIENTISTS: 

1. Dr. Yalavarthi Nagaraju, Scientist-B

 

Technical Staff :

1. Mr. Bimal Chaudhury, STA

The Soil Science and Microbiology Lab was established with a primary focus on advancing research to improve soil health and enhance plant productivity, particularly in the context of sustainable sericulture. The lab integrates microbiological and soil science research to explore the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils, and the interactions of fertilizers, biofertilizers, and organic amendments with mulberry plants. Key objectives include enhancing soil fertility through microbial activity, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and identifying microbial sources for improving pest and disease resistance. Additionally, the lab investigates microbial degradation of organic matter and nutrient transformations to optimize soil conditions, while providing farmers with detailed soil sample analyses and expert fertilizer recommendations to boost mulberry growth and productivity.

Mandates:

• Soil and Microbial Research: Conduct integrated research on soil science, plant nutrition, and microbial interactions to enhance mulberry growth, soil health, and environmental sustainability in sericulture.
• Development of Soil and Biofertilizer Technologies: Develop efficient soil management practices and multifunctional biofertilizer strains to optimize natural resource use and improve soil fertility and plant nutrition.
• Farmer Advisory and Fertilizer Optimization: Provide soil-based recommendations and biofertilizer advisory services to sericulture farmers, aiming to optimize fertilizer use and enhance mulberry productivity sustainably.
• Innovation and Resource Mobilization: Harness the genetic diversity of microbes for addressing sericulture challenges, and explore funding opportunities to support research, technology development, and sustainable industry growth.

Thrust Areas:
The key thrust areas focus on advancing sustainable sericultural practices and innovative microbial technologies to enhance crop and mulberry productivity. These include:

• Microbial Biotechnology for Crop Nutrition and Protection: Detecting, identifying, and characterizing beneficial microorganisms for crop growth enhancement, biocontrol of pests and diseases, and improving crop nutrition through molecular and nanotechnological approaches.
• Sustainable Soil Management and Fertility: Studying nutrient cycling dynamics in mulberry soils, exploring the effects of fertilizers and organic amendments, and developing strategies for integrated nutrient management and soil sustainability.
• Biological Waste Management and Bioremediation: Exploiting microbes for waste recycling, bioremediation, and enhancing soil health through eco-friendly practices, including the promotion of biofertilizers and organic fertilizers for sustainable sericulture.
• Microbial Diversity and Environmental Impact: Investigating microbial diversity, bacterial taxonomy, and ecological interactions in soil and plant systems, and exploring the role of mulberry soils in carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change effects.

Facilities Available

• Soil Science and MicrobiologyLaboratory equipped withLaminar Air Flow (LAF), UV-Vis Spectrophotometer (Systronic), Auto Kjeldahl Unit, Flame Photometer, and Hot air oven.

 

ONGOING PROJECTS

#	Project code & title	Code	Duration	Objective	Budget (Rs Lakhs)	Expected outcome
Institutional projects
1	Microbe-based nutrient biostimulant antimicrobial (trio) concoction for quality mulberry leaf production	PIN02027SIC	2 years (March 2025 to Feb 2027)	To evaluate and screen the in vitro mineralization, organic acids, and secondary metabolites production of microbes. To develop a microbe-based trio concoction product To assess the effectiveness of concoction products on the quality and quantity of mulberry leaf.	8.00 L	Creation of new product lines that are more environmentally friendly and tailored to specific crop needs.
2	Studies on Carbon Sequestration in Mulberry cultivation under different climatic conditions	PIP03017MIC	3 years (Dec 2024 to Nov 2027)	To assess carbon (C) dynamics in soil under different climatic conditions To evaluate different C pools and C cycling enzymes as affected by different methods of mulberry cultivation Correlation between climatic variation with Mulberry leaf quality parameters.	10.45 L	A comprehensive understanding of organic carbon content, oxidizable organic carbon, labile organic carbon content, recalcitrant organic carbon content, water-soluble carbon, and total organic carbon content in the soil in surface and deep soil layers under Mulberry cultivation.